6.1 quake hits off in Mindanao - USGS

Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines - A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao early Saturday, US seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a depth of 38 kilometres (24 miles) and hit at 02:17 am (1817 GMT Friday) some 87 kilometres east of the city of Butuan.

The USGS had initially reported the quake as having a magnitude of 6.4, but revised it to 6.1.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology measured the quake at 6.5 magnitude and warned that aftershocks were expected.